Oscillating warning light for vehicles



Dec; 7, 1948. KENNELLY 2,455,497

OSCILLATING WARNING LIGHT FOR VEHICLES Filed Nov. 2, 1945 by light beams.

Patented Dec. 7, 1948 OSCILLATING WARNINGLIGHT FOR VEHICLES Jeremiah D. Kennelly, Oak Park, Ill;

Application November 2, 1945, Serial No. 626,358

3 Claims.

This invention relates to light-signal apparatus. The invention is particularly useful in connection with light-signal apparatus for locomotives, railway trains, automobile trucks, and further as a Warning light installation for strategic locations.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved light-signal apparatus provided with unusual means for attracting attention and effectively signalling a warning. A further object is to provide an apparatus of simple construction which may be operated with a minimum of power and which provides a unique means for signalling Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is illustrated, in a preferred embodiment, by the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of apparatus embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a sectional view, the section being takenas indicated at line 22 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3, a detail sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

In the illustration given, l designates a housing which may be formed of sheet metal and of a generally cylindrical shape. The housing is open at its forward end, and a lens H is secured within a rubber ring I 2 against a flange I 3 welded to the housing H]. An outer angle iron l4 locks the ring I2 in position. The member l4 may be secured to the housing I!) by spot welding or by any other suitable means.

Within the housin [0, a supporting cross strip I5 is secured in position by welding or other suitable means, as shown more clearly in Figs. 1 and 2. A second supporting strip I6 is also secured as a supporting strap across the interior of housing ID.

A ring frame member 11 is supported upon vertically-spaced pivots so as to oscillate from side to side transversely of the casing. The member I! is provided with flanges is which are provided with sockets receiving the ball members l9 and 20. The ball member I9 is carried by the transverse strap I 5, as shown more clearly in Fig. 1. The upper ball member is carried by the bolt 2| which extends through an opening 22 in the housing l0. A nut 23 draws the flange 24 tightly against the inner side of housing l0. By means of the two members I 9 and 20, the ring frame I! is thus secured in position and permitted to rotate from left to right or transversely of the housing. A reflector 25 is supported within the 2 ring l1, and a light bulb 26 supported within the reflector in the usual manner. a

The ring I! is provided on one side with a rearwardly-extending arm 21 which is pivotally connected to an actuating arm 28. The arm 28 is connected by means of a pin 29 to a pendulum arm 30. Thependulum arm '30 is provided with an elongated slot 3| through which the .pin 29 extends.

' The pendulum arm 30 is pivotally supported upon the metal strap I 6 at 32 by means of a pin having flanged ends 33 and 34. Iffdesired, the pendulum arm may be provided with a wear ring 35 adapted to rest against the vertical strap I6.

; The pendulum arm is preferably provided with an integral extension 36 having a slot 31 therein.

Any suitable means for operating the pendulum arm may be employed. In the illustration given,

a motor 38 is supported by bracket 39. welded to thecasing H3. The motor 38 drives through reduction gears 40 and shaft 4| upon which is mounted a lever arm 42. The lever arm42 describes a relatively wide circle around the shaft 4] and moves a rod 43, which is connected to the extension 36 by means of pin 44, through relatively wide strokes from right to left. By this means, the pendulum arm is swung wellto the right and to the left as shaft 41 rotates.

The bottom portion of arm 35 provides a collar 45 adapted to receive the hub of a reflector 46. The collar 45 is clamped around the hub by means of a screw 41 passing through spaced flanges 48. A light bulb 49 is secured within the socket in the usual manner, and wiring connects both light bulb 49 and light bulb 26, as well as motor 38, with a suitable source of current.

In the operation of the structure, the motor 38 is set into operation and drives through reduction gears 46 the drive shaft 4|. The arm 42, which is fixed upon shaft 4|, makes a wide arcuate stroke around the shaft 4| and swings the connecting bar or rod 43 laterally through relatively long movements. This causes the extension 36 of pendulum arm 30 to be swung laterally, and thus the suspended light 49 is given a long arcuate swing from one side to the other. At the same time, the connecting means between the pendulum arm 30 and the integral arm 21 of frame I! oscillates the frame I! and light 26 from side to side as the pendulum swings, the oscillation of the light 26 being in a direction opposite to the swing of the lower light 49. In other words, as the lower light swings to the right, the upper light 26 oscillates to the left, and vice versa, the two lights, however, being or load placed upon the motor, and the warn ing operations can be carried .on for extensive intervals without consumption of much current.

While the light may be formed in a relatively small housing, the wide sweep ofiztherapendulum arm around the upper lightgives the, signaLdevice the signalling or warning effect of 'amuch larger structure, and attention is attracted'torit from considerable distances. The transverselyrotatingupperlight .25, which-.blends with the pendulum light whenlthe arm.3ll-. isflin.vertical position-andmoves inpppositerdirections at 'other times. forms. a sharplyecontrasting beamnwhich accentuates and callsattention to .thefswingin vpendulunrt'lightM.

.With. the construction shown, the-upper'jlight 26.and its reflector..25.may be ,swungtoja tilted position vertically by moving the adjustment .bolt

.2 l, rearwardly through the s1ot,22,.as showmmore clearly in .Fig. .1. At times, it is .desiredto throw the illumination at 1 higher angles; particularly when the light is ,used upon locomotives, and the construction shown permits the reflector"25 and its :associatedparts to ,be' tilted upwardly while supported-for rotation upon. the. balls I 9 and 20. .While in the foregoing specification, I have set forth certain specific details for-"thepurpose .of illustration, it will be understoodthat such details ma -be varied widelybythose skilledin the-art -without+departing from the spirit 101' 'my invention.

I-claim: 1. In light-signalapparatus, -a-casing open-at one end, a reflector mounted in saidframe for lateral= movement, a lightbulb 'su-pported iri-said reflector, a pendulum arm suspended from-the top portion of said-casing, a' motor-driven means for swinging said pendulumarm, a reflector-carried by the lower end of said pendulum arm and racing toward'th'e openend of said" casing, a

light bulb supported-within saidreflect-or, means for supplying current to said light-bulbs andto said motor, and a connecting member between said pendulum arm and said first mentioned reflector to produce simultaneous movement of said reflector with the pendulum arm.

2. In light-signal apparatus, a casing open at one end, a reflector mounted in said casing for lateral movement, a light bulb supported in front of said reflector, a pendulum arm suspended from the top portion of saidqcasing, and extending below said reflector, a motor-driven means for swinging said pendulum arm, a second reflector ",carried by the lower end of said pendulum arm ..and.facing toward the open end of said casing, ,.a light bulb supported within said second reflector, means for supplying current to said light -.bulbs and to, said motor, and connecting means between. said pendulum arm and said first-mentioned refiector'to produce simultaneous movementtofnsaid first-mentioned reflector with the pendulum arm.

.3. In.lightrsignalapparatus, a casing open at one end; a. reflector mountediin said .casingior lateral movement, a light'jbulbdnl'front of said topp'ortion of said casing, a motor drivenmeans 'forl' winging said .pen'dulumarm, a second reflector' carried by thelower endof said pendulum arm and 'facing':toward the open end of said casing, said pendulum arm supporting'said second reflector for movement in an arcuatepath around the peripheryof said'first-m'entioned reflector, a light bulb within said; second reflector, e s or su y n cu rent to saidlightbulbs and to said motor,.and a'connecting member between said pendulum arm and said firstgmentioned reflector ,to produce simultaneous movement of said reflectorwith the, pendulumarm.

JEREMIAH'D. V 1 REFERENCES CITED The; following.v references are. or record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 45 Number v Name Date 807,940 Johnson 'Dec.11 9, 1905 1,166;285 Wages '"Dec.f28, 19 15 1,269,035 Workman .June'11,'1918 1,317,268 Cole Sept. '30,.1919

50 1,471,355 Post --20ct.123.11923 1,792,250 Signor Feb. 10,1931 2,002,232 -Signor May 21, 1935 

